The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-13
NOT AN OLD MAID AFTER
ALL,

ALL.
If ever cottage carried out the poet s
idea of "a lodge in some vast wilder
ness" it WAS this one, with the rudely
hewn logs and the red cedar verandah
posts all twined about with clematis and
ivy.
1t was merely spot cleared away in
the midst of the primeval forests. with
tall trees forming Il dome of sEads. and
tangled ferns and laurel bushes car
peting and glades bchind-that was
all.
Minnie West had thought it would be
.great fun to camp out with her faith
er. She had asked Barbara Gwynn 10
accompany her, lin case one wants
somebody to talk TO-" as she said; and
had selected number of her prcttiest
and most picturesque gowns to wear,
and books innumerable to read. But
after the first three days Minnie con-
fessed within herself that it was 4 bore.
.Barbara?" she said softly. rs she
lay swaying 10 and fro in the ham
mock.
Yes"
Barbara was hemming pocket-hand-
kerchief in the shade beyoni, and
looked up quickly at the sound of hei
voice.
Isn't it lucky that Tom and Dick
came this morning?'
Very" said Barbara.
81 was beginning to be tired to death
of the whispering of those trees. and
the tinkle of the WATERFALL sighed MIN
ME. "And papa goes away before day,
light, and that old Indian woman sell
ing baskets frightcns me half to death
How do | know but what she means 10
scalp me before she gets through? But
now that Dick is here"
'.And Tom," softly murmmed Ban,
bara.
They'll have to sleep in hammocks
swung under the trees ut night. added
Minnie. ''But | don't think they Il
mind that"
IF it don't rain," SAID Barbara.
"And they'll have to eat canned
things and preserves, unless papa
brings home some trout, or wild ducks,
or venison, or something. But, OF
course people expect to rough it in the
woods"
.Of course" acquiesceI soft-voiced
Barbara.
.'Im sorry, though" sighed Minnie
gazing pensively outtoward Lake Shela
in the distance, .'that they both hap.
pened to blunder in this direction al
once; because-mind. Barbara. this is a
great, great secret"
IN never breathe it to n living
soul!" whispered eager Barbara.
They are both dead in love with
me-" confidentially murmured Min
ME, blushing radiant sca-shell pink,
.and-and l know they are furiously
Jealous of each other"
Dear mer' fluttered Barbara, herself
coloring in sympathy.
'And Pm afraid one or the other OF
them will do something dreadful" said
Minnie; '.for the way they glare at each
other is simply appalling"
"Couldn couldn't you send them
away?' hazarded Barbara, her blue eyes
uplifted, her red lips parted in sort OF
dimpled CONSERVATION.
''Oh nor Minnie answered positive
ly. mo, that would never do. Don't
you see how inhospitable it would
seem? Oh, Barbara, this is one of the
disadvantages of being-well, tOlcrably
decent-looking, she added with Il
laugh, as she turned her face away.
Zone is perpetually tormented with
lovers; one never knows what to expect.
Now you, Barbara dear
'.Yes, me-" sighed Barbara. hemming
awav until her needle shone like a series
of electric sparks.
You're n darling, and you've the
sweetest face in the world" added Min
| ME. But of course you couldn't bC
called beauty, and men will never
! quarrel about YOU
mo, to be sure not" accGded Bar
bara with a mournful infection in hel
| voice.
And l think-ves, I'm almost Ger
tain." Minnie candidly added-''tha
you'll be an old maid. But you shal
! always have home with me, dear
And only reflect" she said encouraging
ly, "what good deal old maids cal
accomplish in the world"
YES; that's true" said Barbara.
But she did not seen TO derive mucl
comfort from this indisputable fact.
And now, darling" Minnie adde,
dreamily, If you'll just 30 inside I'm,
make ii pie and some little tartS out o
those wild raspberries that the Indiai
woman brought this morning it woul
be such II relief to me, tor one does go
SO shockingly burned and scorched owe
the stove; and never had any fame
/ for cooking. You won't mind, Barbara
| will you?'
81? Oh nor said Barbara, putin
aside the half-hemmed pocket-handker
chief
Ever since their school-days she ha
contentedly yielded up the palm i
everything to beautiful Minnie Wes
and the habit was still strong on her.
Meantime Tom and Dick. who's
names in ordinary society were Nj
Thomas Sinclair and Mr.. Richard Wen
worth, were stalking along side by side
! evidently not the best company for eac
other.
81 rather think" said Wentworth
suddenly stopping, that I'll take tn
old road. 1t looks as if it might lea
somewhere"
at is deuced lonesome sort of
place" said Sinclair. 81 shoudn
think by the looks OF it that Il team ha
been over it in year"
Nevertheless, mean to follow 1t up,
said Wentworth, curtly.
.'Do as you please" observed Sil
clair. Il suppose, however, that yor
idea in following old roads is chiefly I
get rid of me?''
You can draw your own infe
ences," said Wentworth, Struggling h
shoulders.
..Much Obliged to you, am sure" +